Alfalfa Seed & Leafcutter Bee Production & Marketing Manual Now Available Though it can be intimidating for those just starting out, producing alfalfa seed is both challenging and rewarding. This manual is intended to assist new grower and those with many years experience in the industry to get involved in alfalfa seed production and to find the distinct advantages of raising both the crop and the leafcutter bees that go with it.

Beneficial Insects in Alfalfa FieldsInsect fauna of alfalfa fields contains mainly two major groups, i.e. beneficial insects and destructive insects or insect pests. The Later one contains insects that can cause damage to different parts of alfalfa plants in various stages of growth. Alfalfa has many insect pests, such as Lygus bugs, alfalfa plant bugs, pea aphid, alfalfa weevils and grasshoppers. The beneficial insects can be divided into true predators and parasitoids.

Manitoba Forage Seed

About MFSA

The Manitoba Forage Seed Association was formed in 1991 through an amalgamation of the former Manitoba Forage Seed Producers’ Association and the Manitoba Alfalfa Seed Producers’ Association. It is an incorporated, not for profit, producer organization.

The association consists of nine member directors who are all forage seed producers as well as technical representatives from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives and the Seed Trade and has approximately 500 members.

MFSA goals is to build a stronger forage/turf seed production industry across Western Canada through industry cooperation and coordination of efforts through open communication.

The MFSA works hard at researching solutions to production problems in the industry and communicating that information to forage seed producers.

Efforts are also directed towards lobbying on behalf of forage seed producers in areas of concern such as Safety Net Programs, Policy Development and Current Business of the day.

What Can MFSA Offer?

MFSA partners in a comprehensive grass seed cultivar evaluation program with Alberta. The program tests cultivars for performance under Manitoba conditions;

A large number of progressive, highly skilled forage seed producers that have the management skills and experience to reliably multiply forage seed stocks for world markets;

A coordinated industry that will work together to address production issues and develop new production technologies.